Scent of a Mate

by Milly Taiden

  “Jordan?” Ellie looked into her eyes, her brows dipping in a frown. “She’s in shock.”

  “I am not.” But everything had started to feel surreal. Her body felt cold all of a sudden. She’d swear she was watching things play out from a movie screen. “I’m just a little shaken.”

  She was more than a little shaken. Shudders racked her body until she dropped the pan on the floor with a bang.

  “I’ll take her to the shower, you clean up here,” Ellie ordered Aric.

  Concern filled his gaze, turning the already nervous tension residing inside her into a massive knot in her stomach.

  “Jordan?” Aric’s deep voice soothed some of the anxiety she felt. “I’ll be right here.”

  She nodded and let Ellie guide her to her bedroom. More voices sounded from inside her house. She knew them all. Mason, Jake, and Nathan were there.

  In a trance, she showered and allowed Ellie to dress her wounds.

  “I’m sorry, Jordan. I’ll get one of the guys to bring you something more powerful. That arm is going to start throbbing really bad soon. At least these painkillers have something to help you rest for a little while.” She gave her some pills and winced. “These wounds will take more time to heal on you now than they will once you and Aric mate.”

  Her mind was a mess. Pain radiated outward from her wounds to her muscles. She wouldn’t try to figure out what Ellie was talking about. Though she hated to admit it, even to herself, she’d been scared that the animal would best her. That added a whole new level of reality to her situation with Aric. What the hell was she doing with someone who had been promised to someone else?

  “Did you find out what the white wolf wanted?” Ellie asked.

  She nodded. “Aric.”

  “When we arrived there were a handful of them outside. They attacked, and we were forced to fight. None retreated so we have some cleaning up to do in front of the house. I wonder why she said she wanted Aric.”

  Sand dunes formed in her throat, making her inability to swallow past the dryness even more difficult. She licked her lips, but it did little to help. “She said she was invited here to mate with him and I wasn’t going to stand in the way.”

  “I highly doubt that. I know we’ve seen that woman at the scenting ceremony, but I never saw her in her wolf form. You heard Aric. He recognized her human body, but he didn’t talk to her. And I’m sure none of the others had either. It’s probably why we didn’t know what white wolf you were talking about.”

  Jordan winced at the pain growing by the second. The throbbing sharpened like steel blades cutting into her flesh. “Was she telling the truth? She came here with the sole intent to be his mate.”

  Ellie turned her face away from Jordan “I…I don’t know that part. I know my parents invited women for the guys to meet, but I wasn’t told any of them were already chosen as mates.”

  Had Aric lied to her? They’d started this tenuous relationship out of nowhere and she wasn’t sure she wanted to see where things went if this was what awaited her.

  “You should wait and speak with him. I’m sure it’s not what you’re thinking.”

  She sat back on the bed, the pain in her arm increased. Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t think I want to talk to him right now. Some woman came into my house to kill me. She said I got in the way of what she was promised. How many others are going come with the same claim?”

  Fear for her heart and her already deep and muddled emotions made her bite her lip against the sob working up her throat. Who was she kidding? Aric had told her to try, but she already worried it would all go down hill.

  “Jordan calm down. I know my brother. If he says he wants to be with you, then he doesn’t want anyone else.” Ellie patted her hand. “Relax a little while I go check on the guys.”

  Her mind ran too fast for her to keep up. All she knew was that she’d given a lot of thought to being with Aric. The past few weeks with him had opened doors to feelings that scared her. And she didn’t like being scared.

  Chapter Eight

  Aric helped his brothers clean up the mess Jordan’s fight with the daughter to an Alpha had left behind.

  “This is going to bring repercussions,” Jake said, lugging the body of the naked woman out of the house.

  Maybe. Maybe not. Aric’s father was a powerful Alpha. That woman had made her bed the moment she’d attacked their pack. Jordan was part of the Wolfe pack.

  “The Alpha that female belonged to is friends with Rocco. Your mate murdered his first born.”

  “If he decides to bring us a war, we’ll handle it. But they know the rules when they come into our land. We don’t allow anyone to hurt our family. Jordan is mine. She’s a Wolfe and as such, she had the right to defend herself when attacked.”

  Nathan started cleaning up the blood on the floor. “That’s true.”

  “They should know better than to wage war. Their people were the ones to break our rules. Alpha’s daughter or not. Our family comes first for us.”

  Ellie strolled into the room. He scented pain coming from her.

  “What’s wrong?” Nathan asked.

  She glanced up. Concern filled her gaze. “She has a lot of deep cuts. I need one of you to go get her something stronger. Go to our clinic. Bring a sedative and something to fight infection.”

  “I’ll go.” Mason volunteered and followed Jake out of the house. A moment later one of their trucks left with the two brothers and two dead wolves.

  Alarm rushed through his body. “Is there anything I can do to make her better, more comfortable?”

  “You heard her, Aric. She’s afraid you already promised yourself to a shifter.”

  “I haven’t. I told her she’s the only one for me.”

  Ellie’s lips tipped downward. “You’ll need to make her believe it.”

  He hugged her to his side. “I’ll take care of her.”

  After cleaning up the house to remove all traces of blood or evidence of a fight, he went into the bedroom, where Ellie had fully wrapped Jordan’s arm and shoulder with bandages. He sat next to her on the bed.

  “Jordan?”

  He hated waking her, but knew she needed the pills Ellie had them get for her. Ellie’s training in nursing had come in handy for Jordan.

  She opened hazy eyes and frowned.

  “What are you doing here?” She winced in obvious discomfort and glanced away. “I don’t know if this is going to work.”

  He watched her grit her teeth. The pain had to be bad. He helped her take the pills and spoke quickly before she fell asleep.

  “It’s working, Jordan. Stop looking for a problem where there is none. I’m not going anywhere. It’s you and me baby.”

  She eyed him warily, but didn’t argue. Instead, she closed her eyes and shut him out.

  He knew she needed him, so it was clear he had to stay there with her. Guilt that someone they’d invited to the ceremony had hurt Jordan made him want to kill. His wolf paced inside him, angry, concerned, and unwilling to let her go.

  She slept for twenty hours before waking up to more pills and some light food.

  “You don’t have to babysit me, you know.” She grumbled while she ate the sandwich he’d made her.

  “I do so have to babysit you.” He grinned. “You’re all that matters to me, and that means until you’re healed of those cuts, I’m here to stay darling.”

  “Wonderful,” she replied with more than a hint of sarcasm.

  “Come on, Jordan. Can you honestly tell me you’re in the mood to get up from there and go get some food?”

  She chewed slowly before shaking her head. “No. I’m not in the mood for anything other than chopping off my arm and possibly sleeping for a week.”

  He chuckled. “Just chopping the arm off? Pain must not be so bad then. I’d have thought it hurt to the point you may want to kill me.”

  She growled, showing her perfectly straight teeth for him. “If I killed you, who would get me the awesome drug
s and yummy food?”

  “That’s right. You have use for me.” He winked. The tightness in his chest loosened some. He was having a hard time holding it together. Watching her sit there in pain was tearing his heart into pieces. The animal inside hurt from being unable to help his mate. All Aric wanted was to hold Jordan in his arms, hold her tight, and reassure himself and his animal that she was fine.

  “Don’t get cocky. Once I feel good, all bets are off.”

  * * *

  After a few days of taking care of Jordan, he was starting to see why she had warned him off. She was incredibly disorganized, which was hell for someone like him. He had a sharp mind and a great memory, but also liked to stay on top of things by writing them down and keeping a clear work area.

  At her insistence, he’d brought her laptop and the memory cards to her bed and watched her take notes while she watched video after video of the scenting ceremony.

  “You know, I’m going to have to go back there.” She bit her nail. Her focus was solely on the screen and the notes littering the bed. He’d gotten her pads of paper and had even offered to help take notes, but she said she had her own way of working. It was something he’d have to get used to since this was the woman he wanted to be with.

  “Do you want me to clean this up for you?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. I’m good.” A perfectly arched, dark brow lifted and she pointed a finger at him. “And don’t think I don’t hear you cleaning up all the time.”

  He lifted his hands in surrender. “I have to prove I’m good to keep around.”

  Every day that went by, he learned something new about her. Not just the big things, like the fact she hated doing dishes to the point she’d order out just to not dirty plates or pots.

  “What are you smiling at?” She asked suspiciously. “If you say my love for some of the stupid shows on TV I may hurt you.”

  That was another thing, she was a fan of paranormal shows along with shows that made fun of the silly things humans did when bored.

  “No, though I have to admit some of those were pretty funny.”

  She grinned. “See, I told you they would be. So what were you smiling at?”

  “Laundry,” he said and heard her groan.

  “Why would that make you smile?”

  “I just can’t believe someone as beautiful, intelligent, and fantastic as you would prefer to buy new clothes than to do laundry.” He chuckled. That had been a definite eye-opener. His mate was far from perfect, and yet she still felt absolutely perfect for him.

  He’d found out more important things about her than those silly superficial flaws. She was caring enough to donate to an animal shelter. Not only did she give up her money, but one weekend every month, she donated her time too.

  “Hey, I had to have a flaw somewhere. Nobody’s perfect. I’m as close as you get, fur ball. Besides, I’m not the one who has his own business but lives at home with mom just because he loves how she cooks.”

  “I’ve been cooking for you!” He tried to sound indignant, but failed miserably by laughing. “And, you’ve had my mother’s food.”

  She sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. You did the right thing. I’d still be living at home if my mom cooked like that.”

  He’d never tire of her wit.

  “You know, I cook just as good as my mom.” He waggled his brows and leaned toward her on the bed.

  The days they’d spent together had given their relationship the ability to grow without the added stress of dating. She was human after all, and he could not just mate her and move in like most shifters did. Jordan needed to see the proof of how well things progressed naturally with them.

  “Oh.” She put the notepad she’d been writing on to the side and lifted one hand to summon him closer with the crook of a finger.

  He moved beside her, until they were only inches apart.

  “That’s right. I’m a god in the kitchen.” Arousal flared in her eyes. “I’m a god in bed too.”

  She smiled. “I’m going to need proof of that. Think you can prove it?”

  His cock went stiff at her throaty request.

  “For you? Anything.”

  “That’s what I like to hear, my sexy wolf.”

  He lifted a hand to cup her jaw, slipped his hand into her loose hair, and pulled her forward to mash their lips together.

  She licked the seam of his mouth, sucked on his bottom lip, and drove her tongue in. Before long, they were fully involved in removing clothing. He laid her back with care, knowing she still had cuts that hadn’t healed.

  His erection throbbed at the mewling sounds she made. He sucked her breasts, licking and nipping her nipples before sliding his way between her thighs.

  The scent of her honey called to him. She was slick and hot and so wet his mouth watered. One swipe of his tongue on her clit and she was shaking. A dip of his digit into her sex and she was moaning. Fucking her with his fingers and sucking her swollen nubbin with his mouth brought the ultimate response. She gasped, gripped his hair in her hands and rocked her pussy over his mouth.

  “Oh God! Oh yes!”

  He added a second digit into the mix while licking circles around her pleasure center.

  “Dear God, that feels amazing.”

  He growled into her sex. She spasmed and dug her nails into his scalp. Her muscles tensed under his touch. He rubbed his pinky on her dripping channel, and then slid it into her ass.

  “Oh…my…God…”

  He drove his digits in and out of her pussy and ass in tandem with the flicking of his tongue over her clit.

  Took her about thirty seconds to scream and for her pussy to grip and suck his fingers with her orgasm. He continued to draw out her pleasure by slowly rubbing his digits in her channel in the shape of a hook.

  One full body shudder and she was still gasping for air. Her knees shook. She tugged him up to her body, curling a leg around his ass.

  “So, my sexy, inked wildman.” She licked his jaw and he slipped his cock into her wet heat. “I’d tell you to fuck me already, but…” She flipped on the bed. He was on his back and she straddled his thighs. “I think I’ll fuck you instead.”

  This was another reason he couldn’t stand the thought of being away from her. She was sexy as hell in bed. “Works for me.”

  She caressed down his chest, flicking her nails on his nipples. “You have such a sexy body.”

  Passion and something else filled her gaze, something that made his stomach clench.

  “Nothing compares to yours,” he whispered. Love filled his heart with tender thoughts of making her happy. Not just love, but a deep sense of commitment to ensure Jordan’s protection. His breaths pounded hard in his ears. He’d do whatever was necessary to keep his mate safe.

  She smiled the sexy little grin that made him feel like a teenager in lust. “I think I’ll just lick my way down your body.”

  “You better not. I don’t think I can control myself that long.” He said the words roughly. His animal was pushing at the skin. He wanted inside her. Now.

  Her soft laughter made the beast inside him calm down. His mate was happy.

  “Alright. You’ve been a good nurse, and I guess I should be nice and repay all the taking care of me you’ve been doing.” She gripped his cock in her hand.

  He sucked a breath in. “If you think it’s necessary.” He choked out.

  “Oh.” She placed the head of his cock at her entrance, met his gaze and licked her lips. “I insist.”

  She slammed down in one fell swoop. Her pussy tightened around him in a silken hold. He groaned. He might die of pleasure, but what a way to go.

  He gripped her hips and squeezed her ass. “Feel free to repay me this way for anything I ever do for you in the future.”

  She giggled and dropped again. And again. The heat built from the friction of their mating. She rocked over him, wiggling her hips and jerking his cock with her tight sheath.

  “Fuck!”

 
Her rhythm increased in tempo. He helped her ride him. She laid her palms flat on his chest and thumbed his nipples. His cock was getting a serious sucking by her pussy.

  She rocked harder, faster, faster, until she gasped and her body’s grip on his dick tightened.

  “Keep going baby.”

  Her mouth dropped opened. She puffed in and out while gliding on his cock. He slipped a hand between her legs, rubbing a finger over her tight little nubbin.

  One choked moan and her body turned stiff. He pinched her clit and she groaned. Her pussy rippled over his cock, sucking him deep with each contraction of her climax.

  He lifted her by her waist and dropped her hard on his steely shaft while she was still coming down from her high. Pleasure blasted down his spine. He jerked inside her body, filling her with his seed.

  She dropped on his chest. He stayed inside her, even after his dick went limp for all of thirty seconds, before he went hard again. She hugged him tight while they caught their breaths.

  * * *

  “Jordan!” Ellie snapped her fingers in front her face and took a sip of her mixed drink. “Would you please stop daydreaming about my brother? It’s going to traumatize me to keep scenting your arousal for him.”

  Jordan laughed. “Sorry, but it’s his fault for being so damn fantastic in bed.”

  “Oh, ew!” Ellie covered her ears. “I don’t want to hear it. Stop! Stop!”

  Jordan chuckled and slipped a strand of hair behind her ear. “Alright, calm down.”

  “Did you and Aric finally decide on a date for you to go from marked to mated?”

  Jordan choked on the fruity cocktail. “What?”

  She coughed through the liquor stinging the back of her throat. Her eyes watered. Did she hear her say the ultimate wolf commitment word of mate? “What do you mean marked and mated?”

  Ellie stopped her hand mid air on her way to bring her drink to her lips and gawked. “Are you serious?”

  “I thought you said you didn’t get drunk like humans?” Jordan continued to cough into a napkin. A waitress placed a glass of water in front of her with some napkins. “Right now you sound pretty drunk to me.”